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05045 <br />Banks and Gesso. LLC <br />USDA United States Natural Resources Colorado Springs Field Office <br />Department of Conservation Springs Center Bldg. Suite 1 t4 <br />Agriculture Service 1826 East Platte Avenue <br />Telephone: 719473.7104 http://www.ca.nres.OStla.9ov Fax: 7194730933 <br />General concerns when reseeding a disturbed site. <br />1. Many parts of EI Paso County that are disturbed have very little topsoil. When <br />disturbing a site and when possible, any topsoil that can be recovered far later <br />use will only help in reestablishing vegetation on the site. As a general rule, <br />removing the top 6 inches of topsoil before the heavy construction begins will be <br />sufficient. The top 6 inches has the most organic matter and may be a store of <br />native seed that when spread back onto the site can help in reclamation. If the <br />site will be disturbed for a long period of time (more than 1 year) provisions <br />should be made to stabilize the topsoil until it can be reused. <br />2. Seedbed preparation since most of the sites to be seeded will be roadbeds and <br />heavily traveled areas, compacted areas, fill, or material stockpile areas should <br />include several considerations. <br />a. If the area is highly compacted from machinery traffic, the area should be <br />chiseled or tilled to a depth of 1 foot or more. This will breakup most hard <br />pan layers that were created and permit greater water infiltration and root <br />penetration. After such renovation the site should be disced, and dragged <br />and mildly compacted to provide a seedbed that is smooch and relatively <br />flat. The seedbed should be well settled and friable enough to permit <br />placement of seed at the recommended seeding depth. Optimum <br />firmness is when approximately aone-half inch deep boot print is left after <br />walking across the prepared site. <br />b. The seedbed should be as rock and weed-free as passible. If heavy weed <br />invasion has already occurred on the site to be seeded, weed control will <br />be necessary to control the weeds and prevent the existing vegetation <br />from competing with the new seeding. Mowing or an application of a <br />herbicide is recommended. Always follow label directions when applying <br />the herbicide. The county weed control specialist (Mark Johnston) would <br />be a good source of information on the best chemical to use. Areas that <br />have been totally denuded of topsoil should be considered for a topsoil <br />application. If possible a topdressing of topsoil at least 4 inches thick <br />should be applied and worked into the existing soil material on site. This <br />will greatly increase the chances of establishing vegetation on tho site. <br />c. If fertilizer were specified, I would rewmmend that an application of 401bs. <br />per acre of phosphorus and 401bs. per acre of nitrogen be applied and <br />worked into the soil before seeding. If you are concerned that fertilizer is <br />the limiting element in a successful seeding I would recommend a soil test <br />to determine need. <br />d. Prior to topsoil spreading, any banks or other lopes of moderate or greater <br />degree should be worked within reason to provide as minimal a slope as <br />TNV Natural Rvwurcx Lonsarvaaon 9arACV waha NM~n.lun4 wIN <br />tM AmwKan pwpl~tn [onaarwnalwaltxourcx vn gix4bnJa AN EQUAL OVPORTNNITY VROVIOER AND EMPLOYER <br />Oglebay Norton Industrial Sands, Inc. February 2, 2006 <br />Jemadojin Sand Mine Page 31 <br />